Page 146 of BounBound By Scars

I gave a small shrug. “It’s fine. What’re you going to do about Mav?”

Zane smiled. Not kindly. “Absolutely nothing.”

My brows drew together. “What?”

“I just told Sebastian. He said he has… plans. Didn’t tell me what they were, but I’m guessing Mav won’t be our problem much longer.”

I exhaled slowly. “Still doesn’t bring Kabir back.”

Zane rested a hand on my knee. “He’ll come back when it’s safe. I know he will.”

I looked at him, really looked—for the first time in days. The bruises on his jaw were fading now, but his eyes were still tired. Guarded.

“What did they do to you?” I asked gently.

His face shuttered. A flicker of something behind his eyes—then gone.

“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” he said with a hollow smile. “You need help getting up?”

I let out a breathy laugh. “No. I’m good. Let my legs enjoy their freedom.”

I’d just been cleared to leave the wheelchair. First time in weeks. It still felt strange—like relearning how to be myself.

I’d watched Kaylan handle it so gracefully. Even Logan. But for me… it felt like walking through water with phantom limbs. A part of me, still missing.

Kabir still missing.

Zane left me alone after that, and I spent the next hour flying the Bouquet drone around the room—just tinkering. Just doing something to distract myself from the gnawing dread building inside me.

Tomorrow, the team would leave for Virginia.

Romano’s estate.

I wasn’t cleared to go, of course. Too slow. Too fragile.

And I didn’t know how to feel about being benched. Helplessness was starting to rot me from the inside.

I stood slowly, walking toward the window—legs still shaky, muscles unsure. I was about to slide it open, get Bouquet out, when I heard it—

The door lock.

Not the click of a keycard, but the whir of an override.

My pulse jumped.

Zane would’ve just walked in. Dylan wouldn’t come here at all—especially not since he’d gone full silent mode after the White House op.

It would be rather weird to have him just stand there, staring in silence.

I froze, phone already in my hand, thumb hovering over the alert button.

The lock disengaged with a sharp click.

And the door began to swing open.

My breath caught.

And there he was.

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